Improvement in washes for ingot-molds



a and dried before use.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. JoNEs, OF BRADDOOKS, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHES FOR INGOT-MOLDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [91,974, dated June 12,1877; application filed April 4, 1877.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM R. J mum, of Braddocks, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new anduseful' Improvement in Washes for Ingot-Molds; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it.

This invention has reference to the wash which is applied to theinterior surface of molds, particularly those used for casting Bessemeringots.

The mold now in general-use is made of cast-iron, in one piece, havingthe appearance of atruncated pyramid, the taper being slight and justsufficient to allow clearance in drawing. To assist the drawing, a washhas been commonly employed, consisting of fire-clay and water, appliedby dipping or brushing, But even this has not secured perfect'freedom inthe withdrawal of the mold from the ingot. The consequence has alwaysbeen that, by reason of this difficulty in drawing, a large supply ofextra molds had to be kept on hand to meet the demands of the converterssuccessive heats, and many were soon rendered useless by the roughtreatment received by them in the effort required to draw. All thisentailed heavy expense upon the manufacturers. My special object is toprevent this useless expenditure by means of a wash which shall alwayspermit the free and unobstructed withdrawal of the mold without anysledging or battering whatever. To that end myinvention consists simplyof .a wash composed of water and caustic lime, or oxide of calcium. Thewhite or fire clay commonlfemployed as a wash takes up but little water,and when dry contains scarcely any, and does not stick well enough togive a good body. But the oxide of calcium, when mixed with water,absorbs it milk of lime, the we1l-known f whitewash, I

and is in that state applied to the mold, adhering tenaciously thereto,and being capable of being laid on thickly. When the highlyheated metalcomes in contact with this, the water is again liberated, and thecoating diminishes so perceptibly in bulk that no difficulty isexperienced in withdrawing the mold. The ingot never sticks and theapplication is quite as simple and cheap as, it not cheaper than, thatofthe clay-wash.

The practical results are astonishing. In a prolonged actual test of thetwo washes, my actual experience has been as follows: With the clay-washthe average life of a mold has been fifty-two (52) heats whereas withthe lime-wash the average has been increased to the enormous number ofone hundred and thirty two (l32) heats. strates the practical utility ofmy invention, and the saving to manufacturers gained by its use.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patcut- The herein-described mold-wash, consisting of waterand caustic lime or oxideof calcium, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I' have hereunto set my handthis 31st day of March, 187 7,

WILLIAM R. JONES.

Witnesses E. V. MOGANDLESS, THos. J. MGTIGHE.

This fully demon

